This 2nd grade unit introduces children to the history of environmental protection in the U.S. Beginning with three types of environment - mountain, grass plain and forest - the lessons explore some of the natural resources found in these environments and the processes, both historic and modern, used to extract those resources. The young scholars next learn environments are damaged by natural resource extraction and factory pollution. The unit concludes with a lesson that environmental destruction can be reduced. Throughout the unit, historic figures illustrate how individuals can take positive action for the earth, and encourage the government to protect environments.